I do believe I have fallen in a ditch. Yes, I said a ditch. What in the hell am I doing in a ditch, you ask. No doubt, I am scurrying around checking my thesaurus, running an article through a grammar checker, or reading a post out loud.

Did you know when you read, your brain automatically fills in the words you have left out? Or at least this is what “they” tell me. This is the theory behind reading written work out loud to proof it.

The only problem with the heretofore process is, by the time you get finished doing all of this

you cannot stand the post

you would bet money no one else will like the post

the post ends up in the trash can

Think of all the hysterical quips I have written that have been tossed after mindless editing? I now understand the true secret behind David Letterman’s success. If he had to write the piece, edit it, go over it, again and again- he probably wouldn’t do it in the first place, or if it did make it on the show- his delivery would be so bad- people would beg for a commercial, any commercial.

So- my experiment for a bit will be, less editing- more from the hip. I still have it. I had my friends in stitches Saturday night- even with skipped words.

Oh, the other thing I’ve learned during this side step on the sand bar in my fishing boat. Humor writing is a learned skill.

Hi, I’m Ridgely

You may be on the far side of forty, but you don’t need to leave your sense of humor back there. I’m here to show you how you can move forward in life with confidence, happiness and — most of all — laughter! Sign up for my blog updates below so we can keep in touch.